Interaction with locals
From Janapar
People in Karabakh, especially the villages, have not had a great deal of interaction with foreigners. You will be a novelty, and arouse curiosity and interest, though each year more and more tourists make their way to Karabakh. People will be very kind, hospitable and helpful, and will not expect that you conform to their conservative ways. However, that having been said, you should take note of their conservatism and avoid certain behaviors which they are not accustomed to.
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Do
- If you accept hospitality, and feel like you'd like to repay it, try to. Be prepared for resistance. Most of the time it is done out of kindness, not expectation, and attempts to repay will rejected. Try three times at least. Tell them it's for the kids. Use some acting skills to convince them.
- Learn a few words of the local Karabakh dialect. It will be well appreciated and enrich your experience.
- Do hike with a male in your group. Local guys will tend to follow girls around, making things potentially uncomfortable much of the time with you fending off interest rather than enjoying the hike.
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Don't
- Don't have cross-gender nudity with locals (at hot springs, rivers, etc)
- Don't have romantic liasons with locals. If you are a girl you will be considered loose (and make it harder for girls who come after you), and if you are a guy, you may well be expected to marry the girl. Just avoid these problems and don't get involved in this way.
- Don't feel obligated to accept hospitality if you really don't want to. Usually people are being very nice and all, but are understanding if you're firm.
